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“Hi. My name is Joanne Viola. And I am a worrier.”

There I said it. It has been said that the first step to overcoming a problem is admitting it. I worry. A lot. I worry till I get to the realization that more than worrying needs to be done. This is usually when the light bulb goes on and I do the more, I pray.

The word “worry” means “to be anxious, to be divided or distracted by.” (from The Woman’s Study Bible)

Worry will divide us as we cannot both worry and trust God at the same time. It will also distract us from doing that which we can do to resolve or change our circumstances – it will keep us from praying.

Jesus asks this question:

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him that they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
(Matthew 7:26-27, NLT)

Jesus indicates our obvious need for food, shelter and clothing. He knows we have need of these. So what is He trying to get us to discover through His questions?

  1. We are each valuable to God. Why are we valuable? Our worth comes simply from the truth that we have been made in His image. We are the only living things created in His image. This one difference, bearing His image, is the very reason we are valuable.
  2. Worrying is pointless. Nothing will improve or change by worry or being anxious. We cannot add a single moment to our lives through worry. There is nothing to be gained through the action of worry.

Rather Jesus points us to the birds who are cared for by His Father. All that they need is supplied to them. And He promises to take care of us as well, providing for our needs and comforting us when worry and anxiety nips at the corners of our minds.

Jesus hopes to make us realize, “If God lavishes such concern over the rest of his creation, how much more does he love us!” (taken from the New American Commentary, Vol. 22, page 125)

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV1984)

Jesus asks the question to make us realize,
We are valuable to our God.
And He loves us with a love which is great!

 

 

GetInline-7This is Day 5 of 31 Questions Jesus Asked. You can find the entire series here.

Today I am joining … Sharing His Beauty and #SmallWonder and Inspire Me Monday and Playdates With God .